Congrats to all! It looks like the boards are releasing results early this yr.
A few pieces of advice for the recipients
1. If you have yet to take the DoDMERB exam. Get your medical records in order. IF you have not been formally diagnosed by a doctor with a medical issue than do not say it.
~ IE eczema can be a DQ. Don't check that box unless your medical records state you indeed have eczema. Just like some kids at 12 had a bronchial infection and the doc erred on the cautious side by saying it maybe asthma, prescribing an inhaler. You never went for further testing and never used the inhaler. That maybe was just that a maybe. If this sounds familiar, make an apptmt with your family doc and get a true answer, have them document it in your medical files.
~~ Documentation prior to the exam will help a little when it comes to a remedial. Remedials typically are either send in your records or see a specialist. Either way you covered your bases.
2. Bubble Wrap
~ It is a common joke. In essence, it means still play sports and have fun, but don't do something foolish.
~~ A few yrs ago a kid was playing volleyball 4th of July. They HAD to get that ball for the save, fell twisted their knee. They were cleared originally with DoDMERB. now a few weeks prior to school starting and activating the scholarship, they are now in a medical abyss. They couldn't activate the scholarship since they are no longer medically cleared. They were able to start ROTC, but could not do the PFT. It was Oct b4 they got the all clear from the docs. and paperwork sent to DoDMERB. It was @ Thanksgiving when they were cleared. Dec. when they took the PFT and signed. During those months they did not get a stipend. Their tuition was basically placed on hold, along with the books. The school had spring registration in Nov. Since the tuition was not pd, the school placed a lock on their account until AFROTC said yea or nay. They were looking at their spring schedule being messed up as classes filled. This is a worse case scenario, but it is important to understand even a fun thing that you have done 100 times can impact your future.
3. Keep working out
~ Run in the a.m. with little sleep. Run in the high heat of the day. Run when it is spitting rain.
~~ Your 1st impression will be your PFT. Many cadets enjoy their summer, and rightfully so. However, they don't realize that those months off running will slow down their time, especially when it comes to reality. As a candidate you selected the date to do your PFA. As a cadet it will be chosen for you. As a candidate at home with folks, lights out at 11, up for school at 6:30. As a cadet in a dorm (non-SMC) lights out are whenever you shut off the lights, but PT will be 6-6:30, meaning if you go to sleep at 1 a.m., and you have to be up at 5:30 for PT at 6 a.m. you are working out with 4 hrs of sleep.
~~~Do the PFA in order and FORM. Your PFA administer may just count the sit ups and push ups, but the cadre will count only the proper form. If it is not the AF way it will not count and you are wasting valuable energy.
Hope that helps. Again congrats. Now time to think about the next few steps.
